Hans Boelsen
Date of Birth: 06.03.1894 - Emden, Hanover (German Empire)
Date of Death: 24.10.1960 - Frankfurt am Main, Hesse (West Germany)
Buried: Hauptfriedhof Frankfurt
Diploma In Economics: 1922
Doctorate In Political Science: 1923
Doctorate In Jurisprudence 1928
Battles and Campaigns: Battle of France (1940), Operation Barbarossa (1941), Battle of Uman (1941), Battle of Kiev (1941), Battle of Rostov (1941), Battle of Kursk (1943), Operation Shingle (1944), and Operation Diadem (1944)
Promotions:
05.12.1914 Fahnenjunker
06.04.1915 Fähnrich
21.06.1915 Leutnant (mit Patent vom 19.12.1913 G9g)
19.12.1919 Charakter als Oberleutnant (mit Wirkung vom 22.11.1919)
09.07.1934 Hauptmann (mit Wirkung vom 15.07.1934. RDA v. 01.10.1933 unter Vorbeh. der sp. Festsetz. der OrdnungsNr.; RDA als Leutnant 30.12.1919; RDA als Oberleutnant 01.02.1926)
02.02.1935 Hauptmann (-468- erh. OrdnungsNr. (69) zum RDA)
31.12.1937 Major (-7100- m. Wirk. v. 01.01.1938 (RDA v. 01.01.1938(53))
14.02.1941 Oberstleutnant (-1000- m. Wirk. v. 01.03.1941 (RDA v. 01.03.1941(41))
17.12.1941 Oberstleutnant (-6430- erh. neues RDA v. 01.02.1940(14b)
15.02.1942 Oberst (-1000- m. Wirk. v. 01.03.1942 (RDA v. 01.03.1942(205))
20.06.1944 Generalmajor (-3210- m. Wirk. v. 01.06.1944 (RDA v. 01.06.1944(13))
01.03.1945 Generalleutnant
Career:
07.08.1914 Ersatz-Bataillon / 2. badischen Grenadier-Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm I" Nr. 110
22.10.1914 Ersatz-Bataillon / 4.Badischen Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Wilhelm" Nr. 112
05.12.1914 Ersatz-Bataillon / 10.Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180
06.04.1915 Transferred to the frontline as Zugführer (Platoon commander)
08.06.1915 Wounded by shrapnel and taken to the hospital
13.07.1915 Back as Zugführer in Ersatz-Bataillon / 10.Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180
00.00.1915 Zugführer in 2.Ersatz-MG-Kompanie / 10.Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180
17.03.1916 MG-Zugführer und Ordonnanz-Offizier im Stab / Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 247
00.08.1916 Transferred to a hospital due to a resting illness
11.12.1916 Transferred back to 2.Ersatz-MG-Kompanie / 10.Württ. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180
17.01.1917 Bataillonsadjutant in Infanterie-Regiment 476
01.08.1918 Ordonnanz-Offizier im Stab / 242.Infanterie-Division
17.12.1918 Company and Platoon Leader in the Landesschützen-Korps (later renamed to Reichswehr-Schützen-Regiment 7 in Detachment Stobbe)
03.09.1919 Transferred into the Processing-Office of Infanterie-Regiment 180
19.12.1919 Retired from military
01.10.1920 Studying of Law and State-Sciences, in 1926 in higher Administration-Service and Municipal Firms
15.07.1934 Reactivated to Army Service
15.07.1934 With the I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 15
16.07.1934 - 14.09.1934 Detached to Course with the Training-Staff of Infantry in Döberitz
01.10.1934 Kompaniechef in Infanterie-Regiment Gießen
15.10.1935 Kompaniechef in Infanterie-Regiment 36
06.10.1936 Kompaniechef in Infanterie-Regiment 115
21.11.1937 - 11.12.1937 At the same time, Detached Staff-Officers-Course of the 33. Division
10.11.1938 Tactics-Instructor at the War School Potsdam
17.08.1939 - 17.10.1939 At the same time, Detached to the Infantry-School in Döberitz
15.10.1939 1. Adjutant (IIb) XXII. Armeekorps
06.03.1940 1. Adjutant (IIb) Panzergruppe Von Kleist
13.07.1940 1. Adjutant (IIb) XXII. Armeekorps
16.11.1940 1. Adjutant (IIb) Panzergruppe 1
15.05.1941 Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 111
26.06.1941 Wounded, in hospital
18.07.1941 Führerreserve – Wehrkreis III
29.07.1941 Kommandeur Kradschützen-Bataillon 160 (motorisiert)
04.12.1941 Taken ill, in hospital
21.02.1942 Führerreserve – Wehrkreis III
01.03.1942 Führerreserve OKH, detached to Lehr-Abteilung III / Infanterieschule Döberitz
09.03.1942 Kommandeur Lehr-Abteilung III / Infanterieschule Döberitz
15.01.1943 Transferred into the Stab / Infanterieschule Döberitz
15.05.1943 Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111
16.11.1943 - 14.12.1943 Participated in the 8th Division Leaders Course in Döberitz
05.03.1944 - 20.03.1944 Führer 29. Panzergrenadier-Division
11.04.1944 - 07.05.1944 Führer 26. Panzer-Division
19.05.1944 - 18.07.1944 Führer 114. Jäger-Division
19.07.1944 - 26.08.1944 Führer 26. Panzer-Division
10.09.1944 Kommandeur 18. Panzergrenadier-Division
04.02.1945 Führerreserve OKH
00.03.1945 Kommandeur Division zbV. 172
29.03.1945 In captivity
30.06.1947 Released
Awards and Decorations:
11.04.1915 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
07.08.1916 Württembergische Goldene Militär-Verdienst-Medaille
18.08.1917 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
11.01.1918 Württembergische Militär-Verdienst-Orden III.Klasse
06.06.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in Schwarz
08.02.1935 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
00.00.19__ Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht IV.Klasse (4 Jahre)
20.05.1940 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
28.06.1941 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
10.09.1941 Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
18.10.1941 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
17.11.1941 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
10.12.1941 Voenen Orden "Za Hrabrost" III stepen, 1 klas (Bulgaria)
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1914/42" (Ostmedaille)
18.08.1943 Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
17.09.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberst and Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111 / 11.Panzer-Division. Boelsen’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows: “During the middle of August, in the aftermath of 4. Panzer-Armee’s withdrawal movement west of Belgorod, the 11. Panzer-Division found itself defending the Boromlja river (located in the Trostjanez area) with its remaining forces against continual massed assaults. On the 17.08.1943 the enemy succeeded in achieving a broad penetration to the north in the sector of the left neighbouring Division with 3 Guards mechanized brigades, 1 Guards tank brigade, 1 tank regiment and 3 rifle divisions. On the following day this was expanded to the south and west, and the recaptured lines of this Division were overrun. This created an immediate threat to the open left flank of the 11. Pz.Div. Oberst Boelsen and his Regiment were deployed on the Division’s left wing at the time, and the commander received a message of these developments. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he acted without waiting for orders first as these could not be expected for some time due to the unclear situation. At that moment his Regiment was engaged in a counterthrust to the east, and already it was being forced to deploy drivers and clerks to the frontline. However he nonetheless took a few men out of the line and led them into the area west of Nikitowka-Belka. There he also gathered up scattered Grenadiers from the neighbouring Division. Due to the heavy losses of his own officers, leading to their consequent shortage, he personally placed himself at the spearhead of these rounded up groups. With these he launched himself against the hotly pursuing enemy forces and was able to throw them back with bloody losses via bold counterthrusts. The first one took place near Grusskoje, then near Nowosselowka, Skrebowka and finally near Baiwor. In this manner he erected a chain of individual resistance centres from the east to the west along a several kilometres wide frontline that faced northwards. With this he weakened the hostile attacking power and held up their thrust to the south. By completing such a brave and ruthless action on his own initiative, Oberst Boelsen succeeded in preventing the enemy’s intended rolling up of the north-south frontline at a very critical hour. This allowed the XXIV. Panzer-Korps (located southeast of Achtyrka) to complete its operations as planned without having to divert any of its forces.” In addition to the more generic endorsements, the following statement by the commander of 4. Panzer-Armee (namely Generaloberst Hoth) provides an interesting insight into the overall significance of this action… “The premature wavering of the 57. Division created an extraordinarily delicate situation on the 17.08.1943, as the currently disengaged 112. Infanterie-Division saw itself compelled to come back northwards to face the new southward enemy push. If the brave commander of the Pz.Gren.Rgt. 111 had not kept his nerves and inspired his men to fight through his bravery here then the crisis would have expanded to encompass the entire XXXXVIII. Panzer-Korps. This deed fulfills all the requirements for the Ritterkreuz. I have no hesitation in approving this submission.”
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Hans Boelsen was born on March 6th, 1894 in Emden in Ostfriesland and joined the replacement battalion of the 2. badischen Grenadier-Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm I" Nr. 110 on August 17th, 1914 as a volunteer. From there he moved to the replacement battalion of the 4. Badischen Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Wilhelm" Nr. 112 on October 22, 1914 and to the replacement battalion of the 10. Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180 on December 5, 1914. Into the field On April 6, 1915, he was transferred to the position of platoon commander and as such was wounded by shrapnel on June 98, 1915.
Having recovered, Boelsen joined his regiment's replacement battalion on July 13, 1915, first as a platoon leader and later in the 2nd replacement machine gun company.
From March 17, 1916, he was a machine gun platoon leader and orderly officer on the staff of the Reserve Infantry Regiment 247. At the end of August 1916, he was transferred to a hospital due to a resting illness, and then from December 11, 1916, he was transferred back to the 2.Ersatz-MG-Kompanie / 10.Württembergischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180.
From there he was transferred to the 476 Infantry Regiment as a battalion adjutant on January 17, 1917, where he continued to take on the position of orderly officer and later that of deputy regimental adjutant.
From August 1, 1918, he was an orderly officer on the staff of the 242nd Infantry Division. At the end of the First World War, he joined the State Rifle Corps and the Reichswehr Rifle Regiment 7 in the Stobbe Detachment as a company and platoon leader. From there on September 3, 1919 to December 16, 1919 he was transferred back to the processing office of the 180th Infantry Regiment, where he was then released from army service on December 19, 1919 with the rank of Oberleutnant. In civilian life he completed his economics diploma in 1922 and received his doctorate in 1923. rer. pole. and in 1928 he received his Ph.D. jur.
From June 13th, 1933 to June 17th, 1933 he took part in a company leader course at the "Stahlhelm" in Mainz, and from September 10th. took part in the autumn exercise of the 12th Infantry Regiment until September 17, 1933.
From 1 February until 28 February 1934, Boelsen took part in a course at the SA leadership school of the SA Group Hesse as an adjutant of SA Standarte 25 and was employed in the 1st Battalion of Infantry Regiment 15 from July 15, 1934. As early as July 16, 1934, Boelsen attended a course at the training staff of the Döberitz Infantry School, returned to his regiment on September 14, 1934 and took over the position of chief of the 3rd company in the Giessen Infantry Regiment on October 1, 1934. On October 15, 1935, he took over the same position in Infantry Regiment 36 until it was relocated to the Rhineland as Infantry Regiment 105. As of October 6th, 1936, Boelsen was head of the 11th company in the 115th Infantry Regiment and visited from November 21st. a staff officer course for the 33rd Division until December 11, 1937. Furthermore, on March 25, 1938, he received the title of Dr. Dr. to be allowed to wear alongside his military rank.
Working as a tactics teacher at the Potsdam War School since November 3rd, 1938, he came to the Döberitz Infantry School on August 17th, 1939, also as a tactics teacher. With effect from October 15, 1939 he was appointed to the staff of the XXII. Army Corps transferred and took over the post of IIa. From there, on March 6, 1940, he was appointed IIa in the staff of Kleist's group, with which he took part in the Western campaign.
From July 13, 1940 as IIa again on the staff of the XXII. Army Corps, he took over the position of IIa on the staff of Panzergruppe 1 on November 16, 1940. Shortly before the start of the Eastern campaign, Boelsen moved to the 111 Rifle Regiment as commander of the II Battalion with effect from May 16, 1941 and was appointed on June 26. Wounded on the Eastern Front in 1941. Transferred to the Führer reserve during his recovery, he was appointed commander of the Motorcycle Rifle Battalion 160 (motorized) with effect from July 29, 1941. As such, he particularly proved himself in the battle near Rublevka on August 13th and 14th, 1941.
After he fell ill on December 4th, 1941, he was transferred to the Führer reserve on February 21st, 1942 and was assigned to Teaching Department III of the Döberitz Infantry School with effect from March 1st, 1942. There he was appointed commander of Training Department III (for motorized infantry) with effect from March 9, 1942. With effect from January 15, 1943, he was transferred to the school's command staff.
On July 10, 1943, Boelsen was appointed commander of the 111th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, as part of the 11th Panzer Division, with effect from May 15, 1943. With this division, his regiment took part in the heavy defensive battles following the withdrawal of the 4th Panzer Army west of Belgorod in the Trostyanets area. There, on August 17, 1943, the enemy succeeded in making a deep breakthrough into their northern neighbor with three mechanized Guards brigades, a Guards tank brigade, a tank regiment and three rifle divisions. On August 18, 1943, this break-in extended further to the west and also overran the withdrawn lines of the division where the break-in took place. This threatened the open left flank of the 11th Panzer Division. On this left wing the regiment was under the command of Boelsen, who at this time was leading a relief attack to the east. This attack was already carried out with expendable entourage. Aware of the threatening situation on the division's left wing, he withdraws some of these troops and leads them into the Nikitowka-Belka area, where he gathers scattered units from the neighboring division. Due to the loss of many officers, Boelsen personally placed himself at the head of this combat group and led it against the enemy, which he repelled first at Grusskoje, then at Novoselovka, at Skrebowka and at Baivor in dashing, dynamic counterattacks, with bloody losses. In this way, Boelsen gradually builds up a northern front several kilometers wide from east to west, weakens the enemy's attack force and stops the thrust into the rear of the 11th Panzer Division. For this he was nominated for the Knight's Cross by the leader of the 11th Panzer Division, Wend von Wietersheim. Also the commanding general of XXXXVIII. Panzer-Korps, General of the Panzertruppe von Knobelsdorff, warmly supported this proposal after Boelsen had already been unsuccessfully proposed for the Knight's Cross on July 20, 1943 (instead of the Knight's Cross, Boelsen received the honorary clasp for an act on July 11th and 12th, 1943 near Kochetowka).
The commander in chief of the 4th Panzer Army, Colonel General Hoth, supported the proposal, as did the commander in chief of Army Group South, Field Marshal von Manstein, and the head of the Army Personnel Office, Lieutenant General Schmundt. Boelsen then received the Knight's Cross on September 17, 1943 as colonel and commander of the 111 Panzer Grenadier Regiment.
Transferred to the Führer reserve on November 7th, 1943, he took part from November 16th in the 8th Divisional Leader Short Course in Döberitz until December 21, 1943. Boelsen will move from the leadership reserve of Military District XI from March 5th. until March 20, 1944 in the OKH in the area of Army Group C and was commissioned with the deputy leadership of the 26th Panzer Division on March 30, 1944, with effect from March 1, 1944. In contrast, he led from March 5th. until March 20, 1944, initially the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division and then from April 11th. The 26th Panzer Division until May 7, 1944.
On May 14, 1944, he was assigned deputy leadership of the 114th Jäger Division. On July 19, 1944, he took over leadership of the 26th Panzer Division again, although on August 2, 1944, he asked for eight days of vacation due to repeated bomb damage. Leader of the division until August 26, 1944, he took command of the 18th Panzer Grenadier Division on September 10, 1944 and was transferred again to the leader reserve with effect from February 4, 1945, where he took over leadership of the division in March 1945 Coastal defense section Friesland, the former division zbV. 172, takes over. As the leader of this command, he was taken prisoner on March 29, 1945, from which he was released on June 30, 1947.
Dr. Dr. Hans Boelsen died on October 24, 1960 in Frankfurt/Main.
SA-Hauptscharführer Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as adjutant of SA-Standarte 25. From 1 February 1934 till 28 February 1934 he took part in course of the SA-Führerschule/Gruppe Hessen. The picture was taken from the file at Bundesarchiv-Invenio > PERS 6/1112.
Major Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen in his office. The picture was taken in 1938 when Boelsen served as a Kompaniechef in Infanterie-Regiment 115 / 33.Infanterie-Division.
Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as an Oberst after receiving the Ritterkreuz.
Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as Generalmajor.
Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as Generalmajor.
Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen as Generalmajor.
Generalleutnant Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen (Kommandeur Division z.b.V. 172) and an American MP (Military Police) officer after captured. Boelsen was taken prisoner at Emsland, Niedersachsen, on 29 March 1945, from which he was released on 30 June 1947. Division z.b.V. 172 itself was established on 23 November 1944 by renaming Division Nr. 172 and relocated to the West Wall near Zweibrücken. Since the division had no combat value, it was ordered to retreat east before it came into contact with the enemy. The Bamberg-Bayreuth-Erlangen area was assigned as the new accommodation area with division headquarters in Waischenfeld. The division was moved to the new space at the end of March / beginning of April 1945. From here, as soon as training had begun, the division marched into the area north and west of Landshut. The division was disbanded there on 30 April 1945 after the capture of Divisionskommandeur Boelsen. The subordinate units were taken over by the 36. and 347. Infanterie-Divisions. The division staff was transferred to the field army and became the division staff z.b.V. 617 (Command Coastal Defense Section Friesland). Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.
A "Fragebogen" (Questionnaire) of Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen.
Signature of Dr.rer.pol. Dr.jur. Hans Boelsen.
The grave of Hans Boelsen at Hauptfriedhof Frankfurt.
Source :
"Panzertruppen: Les troupes blindées allemandes - German armored troops 1935-1945" by John Lee
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frankfurt,_Hauptfriedhof,_Grab_Hans_Boelsen.JPG
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2494943#p2494943
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/hans-poehlsen-german-general-hans-poehlsen-commander-of-the-news-photo/615312214
https://www.leo-bw.de/web/guest/detail/-/Detail/details/DOKUMENT/labw_findmittel_06/labw-1-325770/Boelsen%20Hans
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/B/BoelsenH.htm
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91%D1%91%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BD,_%D0%93%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81
http://sylviolassance.blogspot.com/2013/06/boelsen-hans-0603189424101960.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/2385/Boelsen-Drjur-Drrerpol-Hans.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027112917fw_/http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalleutnant/BOELSEN_HANS.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20110105222811fw_/http://ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/B/Bo/Boelsen-Hans.htm
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